How I Met Henry (on hold)

Chapter 19

As I eased open the door to Henry's apartment, I was met with silent shadows. I was positive he wasn't home from work yet but called for him anyway.

"Henry?"

I didn't receive an answer. Sighing with disappointment, I flipped on the light and locked the door. I had hoped Henry would be waiting for me. I missed him with every fiber of my dark soul and craved his loving touch.

With an empty hole in my chest, I progressed through the motions of returning home after work. Removing my jacket, I hung it on the peg in the wall and toed off my shoes. Strolling down the hallway into Henry's bedroom, I turned on the light and proceeded into the bathroom to flick that one on as well.

Sore and exhausted after working all day, I was dead on my feet. My bones were heavy and my muscles had been used to the max. The day had started off sunny, but clouds had rolled in and grown thicker as the day advanced, which hadn't helped at all. The gray sky had just made me feel even more tired and spent. A hot shower would help to replenish some of my depleted energy and soothe my overworked muscles.

Undressing and grabbing my robe, I gathered all my personal hygiene items and deposited them in their correct places in the bathroom. Hanging my robe on the back of the bathroom door, I reached into the shower and turned on the faucet.

While I waited for the water to heat up, I released my bun and shook out my hair. Studying my reflection in the mirror, I came to the conclusion that I didn't look as worn out as I felt. I was bleary-eyed, but there weren't any bags under them, and my posture wasn't slumped.

Reaching back into the shower, I checked the water temperature. It wasn't quite hot enough. A slight turn of the knob adjusted the water to where I wanted it to be.

Satisfied, I redirected the water flow to the showerhead, stepped into the tub and closed the curtain. Backing under the heated waterfall, I groaned. Hot water cascaded over my hair and down the entire length of my body, enveloping me in a heated liquid cocoon.

As I lathered my hair with shampoo, I wondered when Henry would be home. It was already past 6:30, and he had told me previously that he was usually home by 5:30 or 6:00.

The hole in my chest throbbed with desperate need. I didn't think I would ever get used to missing someone. The feeling was strange, almost alien. I didn't miss people, but I sure as hell yearned for Henry. I missed his pretty blue eyes, cute little smirk, and the sound of his raspy voice. Most of all, I pined to be snuggled in his thick arms. The desire to feel his lips on mine was intense.

Sighing longingly, I rinsed shampoo down the drain and evenly distributed conditioner throughout my locks. While I waited for the conditioner to do its job, I reveled in the way the fluid heat ran down my body.

In my opinion, a blazing hot shower was one of the simpler pleasures in life. All my tight muscles were loosening, and I was redeeming some of my lost energy. Heat really was a miracle worker on a stiff body on a day like today. My feet still hurt, but Henry had promised me a foot massage. I was looking forward to that.

While I rinsed the conditioner from my hair, I daydreamed about Henry's affectionate embrace and doting kisses. I had just finished when the shower curtain rustled. A normal person would have probably jumped out of their skin, but I knew that sound meant Henry was home. A surge of excitement rushed through my veins, my eyes snapping open just in time to see him step into the tub naked.

"Mind if I join ya?" Henry asked, a hint of a smile pulling at his lips.

"Sure!" Grinning uncontrollably, I gripped his hips and yanked him towards me.